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Topic: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300 (Read 1219 times) previous topic - next topic

Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

I'am going to go look at a 92 Unihome and the owners wife told me the coach is in storage and i would need to put the battries in to start it. He passed two years ago. this Coach has a 6V92 TA, So any thoughts on hooking up the battries on the coach, or anything I need to know. Thanks  Andy
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #1 –
Andy,

Three batteries probably just inside the rear engine door if it has a side radiator. 34 series will do it. Turn key on, hesitate a second and then start it. Check oil and coolant level. If coolant is below sight glass on tank, computer won't let it start. PM or call with questions of what to do next.

Unless it's cold, it should start in several seconds even if sitting for a couple of years.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #2 –
@Andy On my 92' the batteries are in D4 (Drivers side bay 4th from front) the water bay. Mine has a battery box with 3 8D batteries. 2 are house batteries 1 is the start battery. If you have a strong battery you should only need to install the start battery. The battery box on the older coaches tend to go missing not sure why. The 8D batteries weigh a ton best to set on a box of some kind in front of the bay so that you can just slide it into place. The cables might reach without sliding it all the way in if you point the terminals towards the coach. On mine the start battery is the last one closest to the rear tire. In best case cables should be marked. Also red for positive black for negative as you would expect.

Unless she has a trickle charger on the batteries you probably want to bring a large battery charger to boost the battery for a while before you even attempt to start her.

Be sure to check oil before starting and as Pierce says check coolant at the sight glass. Use a flash light to check the sight glass. It's sometimes hard to tell what you are looking at. A full radiator or an empty one.

The 6v92 is a great engine but since it's gone out of on road use it's gotten harder and harder to find someone who knows how to work on it. They are out there but you need to poke around and ask lots of questions until you find the right guy.

Good luck! I hope it works out for you.

EDIT: Kent Speers has a 93' and his start batteries are as Pierce describes (3 group 31s I think) so depending on when FOT changed over to engine mounted batteries this advice may or may not apply. :) If it was built early 92 probably batteries in D4 later in 92 a chance they are engine mounted.

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #3 –
Thanks Gent for the heads up good advice, sounds like i should losd up the pickup with a few things :D
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #4 –
@Andy You might also want to bring some distilled water to top off the batteries if they need it. (If they are wet cells)

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #5 –
Betting the batteries have not seen a charger in over two years. Sulfation monster has finished them off just after that and now are just good for cores. Unfortunately, the same for the house batteries. Ours were the same and the owner was still kicking. Even when storage has juice, 90% of owners never think about charging the engine batteries.

Have to give any owner a lot of slack when sick. It's time to think of family and a totally different direction. Much to be very thankful for with good health. Much rather be broke and feeling good than all the money in the world.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Andy 2 –
I'am going to go look at a 92 Unihome and the owners wife told me the coach is in storage and i would need to put the battries in to start it. He passed two years ago. this Coach has a 6V92 TA, So any thoughts on hooking up the battries on the coach, or anything I need to know. Thanks  Andy

Andy,

Any chance it's the 92 that's mentioned in this thread (the one owned by the Pattons)?  Three Foretravels For Sale in Spokane, WA craigslist
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #7 –
Would not add water to batteries until you get it started, adding water before will dilute the acid lowering the charge.

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #8 –
Hey Andy,
You might want to take at least one new battery with you. I tried using old batteries to at least get mine started to move it out of the pasture and it didn't work. Batteries tested ok, but OK & Good are 2 different spots on the meter. Long & short of it is, there ain't no substitute for a stout battery & clean, tight connections! Not even jumper cables. Good luck, looking forward to an update.
Fred Lewers
1984 FTX ORED
Build #2423
1991 Ford Taurus SHO
17 1/2  trillion dollars....  TANSTAAFL....  The party's winding down folks!

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #9 –
Andy,

I have a set of jumpers but made out of welding cables. Even then, if you have dead or low batteries and use a jumper to try and start immediately, your car/truck battery won't have the interior cell connectors to handle the load without a good possibility of damage. A set of jumpers at fast idle on the donor car will take 15 to 30 minutes to bring up a flat but not sulfated battery up to starting voltage.

A 6V-92TA usually comes with 3 series 34 batteries to start rather than the 2 Cummins and CATs use. A single 8D is marginal but will do it in warm weather.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #10 –
Wow thanks for all the help, Yes it is the one in Montana and yes it is owned Sam and Evelen. I have talked to her several times and see seem very nice. I hope to have a good inspection and come to a fair price with her, and for the record we have no intentions of low balling her. talking to her Sam loved that coach and if he would have lived we would not be talking about this. So keep those card and letters coming folks and wish us luck on a good inspection.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #11 –
Michelle yes it is the one from Montana. I feel kind of silly when i openned your post, it took me to earlier post when she first posted it after Sam passed. It is a 40 footer and U300 and she has reduced the price. I plan on taking everything mentioned and even one of my 8ds out of the Bus.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #12 –
How did you make out with the coach Andy?
Did she start for you?
Fred Lewers
1984 FTX ORED
Build #2423
1991 Ford Taurus SHO
17 1/2  trillion dollars....  TANSTAAFL....  The party's winding down folks!

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #13 –
Have not gone yet, I'am in Texas this week with work and I head home tomorrow. Then I head out friday morning for my trip to see the coach. I have talked with the owner, I asked her about the battries and she said that Sam had disconnected them after putting it in storage. she also let me know that the tow bar that they used came with the Coach and windshield wrap around cover. They had put a new water heater and fridge in and two new steer tires. So I will take a good charger with me just in case and one of my 8ds from the bus.
I will pass on my report when I get back , After this week of work I'm so ready to go shopping ;D  Thanks again for all the input 

Talk to you all soon.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #14 –
Well I got over to see the 92 Grand Villa. It is a very nice Coach, nice paint job and pretty clean for sitting for two years. But after much consideration I have decided that is it not the Coach for us. So the search goes on. I have decided to look for a Bus style instead of the older style.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #15 –
Hey Andy, care to share what pushed you off of this coach..?


Thanks



Dave
1991 Foretravel Grand Villa 36'
1993 Cobra Phoenix 33'
 

Re: Starting a 1992 Grand Villa Silver Anniversary u300

Reply #16 –
Well I own a Eagle Bus, have for the last 7 years so iam use to sitting right up front. When I drove this one i felt like i did not have a good feel for what was in front of me. I know it sounds strange but that's the feeling i got. and i did not care for the power of the 6v 92.  It ran and started great just not enough get up and go for me. It just didn't fit me or my needs. Iam sure it will make a nice Coach for someone. So I will keep looking for a Bus style Coach.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921